Page 12 of The Virgin and the Patient Professor

Dani grins and slides into my arms when I join her in the bed. “You don’t have to do anything special to make that happen, Leo.” She wiggles them teasingly in front of my face. “You make my toes wiggle, too.”

I kiss her anyway.

Dani

I don’t know why everything feels better and brighter, knowing Leo has my mom’s blessing. Hell, I think she’d probably take credit for picking him out. And come to think of it, we spent hours going over the course catalog for Bayview when she was dying in that hospital room. My mom loved school, and it gave her immense pleasure to picture me at college taking any number of interesting classes that weren’t available when she went to school. Things like organizational psychology, a relatively new field. I vaguely recall her highlighting that one specifically. Is that why I signed up for that first class of Leo’s? Did she plant the seed subconsciously?

I’m too happy to care how Leo came into my life. Just that he stays. When I wake up early in the morning with him wrapped around me, I feel cherished. I soak it in, not wanting to move until Leo stirs. His arms tighten and suddenly he’s pressing me into the mattress, his lips claiming mine.

“Morning, Dani,” he growls in that raspy voice that makes my insides quiver.

“Hi. Are we playing caveman this morning?” I ask in a chipper voice. More than ready to be ravished if that’s his mood.

“No.” He chuckles at my pout of disappointment. “This is me asking you to marry me. Today. You aren’t getting up until you say yes. So, Dani Babcock, soon to be Malone, will you please make me the happiest of men and agree to marry me in…” he glances over at the clock on the bedside phone, “approximately three and a half hours?”

I gape at him. How? What? One of his elegant eyebrows goes up like I’m taking too long. “Yes, I’ll marry you. But you’re going to have to explain the three-hour window. We don’t have a license or a judge or anything else, really.”

“We do actually. You signed the application last week when I gave you all those other papers to sign. And the big event today that has the kitchen closed is another wedding this afternoon. We’re simply going to co-opt some of the elements like the judge for ours. You have a dress waiting in another room.”

“Oh.” I’m stunned, really.

“Dani — I thought this might be easier, skipping all the planning drama, but if you want to wait and do that, we can. I just want you, in my bed, siting at the kitchen table as soon as possible.” His dark eyes are solemn, but his weight hasn’t shifted and I feel deliciously trapped.

“I’m good,” I tell him, stretching up to give him a small kiss. “But if that’s happening in three hours, I need to get up and eat and shower and, well, everything.”

Leo gives a mock sigh and rolls off of me. “It’s a valid point,” he grumbles while shading his eyes with his arm.

“Can we play caveman this afternoon?” I ask cheekily as I sit up and slide out of bed. I’m assuming Leo’s cheerful growl is one of assent.

12

Dani

The next few hours are a whirlwind of activity. Thankfully, I just have to follow orders. Close my eyes, lift my arms, turn around. The hotel staff do the actual work of getting me ready. And, someone kindly provided a delightful non-staining breakfast, so I’m able to eat something.

And then before I know it, I’m standing next to Leo in front of a kindly judge. Leo is dressed in his darkest suit, the one that makes him look a bit like an Italian prince. He slides a delicate gold ring on my finger and hands me a slightly heavier one for him, and that’s it. We’re married!

I’m slightly at a loss as to what we do now. My tea-length dress is too delicate to go hiking and so pretty! I’m not ready to take it off yet. Then, before Leo can say anything, a short round man in a chef’s outfit holds a finger to his lips and gestures to follow him. So we do. He points to a gazebo by the lake, mostly obscured by the landscaping, and winks. Leo and I exchange glances, shrug, and start across the lawn.

We pass a man with military posture sitting on a bench. He looks tired but more bemused by the young woman standing beside him lecturing him about taking better care of himself. He’s got that look in his eye, like a cute little kitten has suddenly developed vampire fangs.

“We do have one social obligation for borrowing the judge and all. We have to make an appearance at the big wedding reception. But only for half an hour,” Leo calls my attention back with a wry grin.

“So a friend?”

He nods. “A friend of a friend. He wants to hire me to consult for his corporation.”

“And he plans to talk business at his own wedding?” I’m slightly shocked by that, but I’m not sure why.

Leo grins. “No. He’s keen to get a look at you. He didn’t believe me when I called him.”

“Oh.” I feel the blush rise in my cheeks. But before I can think too hard on that, we’re inside the secluded little gazebo. The floor is scattered with pretty cushions and blankets, and there’s a low table absolutely covered with yummy things. And a bottle of champagne cooling in a silver bowl.

“Oh!” I say again, suddenly starving. Without a word, Leo kneels down and then pulls me onto his lap and we proceed to feed each other tidbits. If I saw this in a movie, I would say it was sappy, over the top nonsense. But now, being here, it feels just right.

“You realize we’re married now, right?” Leo asks slowly after popping a fat strawberry in my mouth. I nod, wondering why he’s in any doubt.

“So we can move you onto the houseboat when we get back tomorrow?”

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